Fig. 1: Alignment and actuation of LCEs enabled by radical diffusion.

a Conventional alignment fixing methods. For the light curing method, as shown in the figure, the geometric structure creates shadow area where alignment fixation cannot be achieved. b The process for alignment fixing of this work through controlled radical diffusion. c The network illustration of the mechanism for mesogen alignment. d Chemical reaction structure formulae of acrylate free radical polymerization. e The available LCE compositions.